You’ve won, Republicans

For years (well, OK, ever since George W. Bush left office, leaving a gaping hole in the budget and a giant deficit), Republicans have argued that the government has to stop spending so much — but that tax increases to fill the budget hole are verboten.

And now Democrats have mostly bought in to that argument. From President Obama on down, they say they’re prepared to rein in spending, including on entitlement programs. In return, all they want is to raise the tax rate a bit on well-to-do Americans, while keeping taxes the same on the middle class. …

C’mon, fellows, get a clue: You’re the reason we’re even having this discussion about spending and taxes. You don’t think Democrats would prefer to go back to the hefty tax rates on the rich of the Eisenhower years? Or heck, even of the Clinton years? …

For now, Republicans, face reality: You lost the election, but you’ve won the debate. You’ve got everyone talking spending cuts and fiscal responsibility. If not the whole loaf, you’ve got three quarters of it.